Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-09-16
Armed and Bound BY OatlS.
1 WHOLE COUNTY IN / ST1TE or
SIEGE.

AN OLD FEUD BREAKING OUT ANEW
IN ILLNoIs-TwO VICTIMS AL.
READY MURDERED.
CHICAGO, Sept. Ca letter from
Elizabethtown, ILL.,, says that the
notorious Belt. Oldham feud, which
has caused the murder of not less
than a dozen persons in Hardin
County, is likely to break forth
again at any time. Oath.bound or
CARNATIONS are known to exist
among the lawless people Of the
hills, and these have demonstrated
that their purpose is assassination.
The feud began with the murder
of "Docp Oldham by Logan Belt in
1876. The nelghborhood DIVIDED
into factions over the affair. At
this time the "Scns of Liberty"
who committed so many 0utrages
and assassinatiOns, were formed.
While the excitement in regard to
this organization ran high, Belt
| was arraigned for the murder OF
"DOc" Oldham. He was tried on
change of venue at Shawneetown
| and sentenced to fifteen years il
the penltentiary. He served six
years and then was pardoned by
Governor Oglesby.
During his incarceration ugly ru-
mors reached him about the con-
duct of his wife and daughters and
when he reached home, he was di-
vorced from his wilo and drove his
daughters from home. Then his
wife's brother, who had been asso-
ciated with Belt in numerous
crimes, went before the Grand jury
in the fall of 1886 and gave his tes-
timony, resulting in the indictment
of Logan Belt, "Jim" Belt, Ear
Sherwood, George Ratcliif, Henry
| Ledbetter and Matthew Ledbetter
for the murder of Luke Hambrink
On the morning of the indict
ment Logan Belt appeared in Ellz.
abethtown with new bride. He
was promptly arrested, together
with the others indicted with him.
They were arraigned in April last.
and after ten days trial the jury
returned a verdict of not guilty.
The desire for revenge IN the
breasts of the enemies of Logan
Belt and his clansmen prompted
them to become assassins. Belt
was warned of his danger and kept
his wife constantly by his side as a
precaution. But on the evening
of June 6 last, he drove along the
public highway unattended, and at
| the crack of a rifle from a clump
Of bushes near the roadside, he fell
| from his buggy dead. Notices
were sent to other members OF the
Belt faction to go or they would be
| killed. "Jim' Belt was preparing
TO 60, but on the evening OF July
lis he was riddled with a charge
| of buckshot within a half mile OF
Ibis own house. George Ratclltf,
another member of the Belt faction
| was with "Jimp Belt when he was
killed, and only saved his life by
running away. He has received
| a notice to leave Hardin County
| but at last accounts he was safely
| garrisoned at the home ot hl'
brother.ln.law, County Judge Jacol
Hess.
| The other members OF the Bei
faction have received similar motto
es and some OF them have O5eyed
The friends of both sides now e
armed daily, and band themselves
together for protection at night
Many of them are afraid to sleel
| in their houses, but with guns 0.
their sides, lie beneath the shad'
of bushes, alternating with on
another in sentry work. The Gov
ernor has offered the customary re
wards for the arrest of the assas
sins of Logan and "Jim" Belt, ou
no one is brave enough to meddl
with those dangerous mysteries
Strangers IN passing through tina
ueighborhood meet with cool re
ception and are warned to go else
where.